Amethyst

Chapter 14: Reasonings

Chapter 14: Reasonings

   As the Opal Elder High Sage, and the Amethyst Sage escorted me back down from the library, each or our steps had an echoing tap. I wasn’t sure how this wasn’t something I had noticed before.  It was not as bright either, the skies had dimmed into an exquisite color, akin to that of rose quartz crystal. Which was slightly more bearable than the concentrated white light from earlier.

   “I must apologize for Sister Amethyt and her actions with you,” The Opal Sage began, “Like yourself she was out for a very long time after her merge, most amethyst-born are.” She briefly paused before continuing, “She spent several years on her Passage, trying to located any one of the four Amethyst Scrolls, and she couldn’t find any.”

   The Aquamarine Sage cut in, “It is a possibility, that she thought one of the three Goddess’ revealed something about their location to you.” Nothing more than a light and pondering curiosity tinted her tone.

    “I’m sorry,” There was a part of me that felt as if I had done something incorrect, and like there was some unexpected expectation that had been waited on me which was only being revealed just now. “The Earthen Goddess told me to find the Savannah, and as I said… once I chose my jackguar I was going to ride in the direction of the savannah.”  

    It was the Aquamerine Sage who responded, “interesting that you already know that you will choose a jackguar for you’re mount, over a goldhorn-antelope.  Why is that?”

   The Sage’s suddenly changed direction, veering to the right and down to the very bottom of the main temple room and passed the stairs which I would descend once more within 3 months. We were headed to the end of hallway. I waited until we were at a set of doors to answer. “The Goddess.” I put simply, “She told me to choose the jackguar who’s coat was the color of citrine and to make that his namesakes.”

    Both of the sages exchanged shocked but inquisitive look, which they then turned onto me. The Elder High Sage, opened the left door, revealing the jackguar stables. All were varying shades of gray and black, apart from one… who just as the Goddess had said, had a coat the color of citrine.

    “He is unruly and difficult to get to cooperate, let alone work with.” The Aquamarine Sage walked forward and we followed her in.  She approached the jackguar, who was notably larger than the others in the stables and the others seemed aware of that and gave him the berth that wild packs might give an alpha.  It attempted repeatedly to pounce forward at her furiously, tugging against its tether, which was tied to a metal hoop imbedded in the wall on the other end of its stable … the jackguar continued until I stood beside her. It seemed to stop completely then.  

    Tentatively I reached my hand out toward the creature.

    “Be careful,” Cautioned the Aquamarine Sage, “This one bit the head off the one who caught him and brought him to us. The rest,” she motioned to the others, who were far more passive by comparison, “were bred here, with a far better temperament than this one. More… reliable to not run off and leave you as you begin your passage.”  

    The creature seemed to huff at her words, placing it’s snout against my outstretched hand. Staying there motionless.

    “My, my!” The Elder High Sage proclaimed, “It seems that he really was meant for you.  He has not acted this calmly with any other.  Certainly, not courteously. Though, that is what happens when one comes to us plucked from the wilderness, even at a young age, the wild never really leaves them.”

   “What did you say that the Earthen Goddess told you his namesake was?” Asked the Aquamarine Sage.

   With a smile, and a gentle rub at the jackguar’s muzzle, I replied. “Citrine. His namesake, is Citrine… what do you think boy?” I made sure to ask the large brass pelted, creature.  Its response was to nuzzle into my hand. I think he approved of it. I thought.

    “You’ve clearly gotten used to emanating your abilities gained from your Merging.” Noted the Elder High Sage.

    I wasn’t sure what she meant so I asked for clarification.

    It was then that she told me that the creature was responding to resonations emanating from the amethyst I had been merged with. That was why it was being as docile as it was. I hadn’t even realized I was doing anything of the sort. The Elder High Sage explained that there is always an aura emanation, the varying degrees can be slight or extreme due to a variety of circumstances.

   “You’re aura is strong, young one.” She nodded. “What do you think of you’re Merging’s sacred pattern?”

    “I…” Only now had I realized that I had yet to see it. Between falling unconscious. Being looked after by the young Sage and the unexplainable, and bizarre freak out of the Amethyst Sage at me over some mythological Amethyst Scrolls… I hadn’t yet even seen my own merging. “I have yet to see it.”

    The Aquamarine Sage and the Elder High Sage motioned for me to leave the stables with them, “Come. You are still in your night dress.  We will get Chalcedony to deliver you a more appropriate set of clothes to your room. Then she can escort you back here once your changed and you can bond with your mount.”  Authority oozed from the Elder High Sage’s words. There would be no arguing with her or rejecting her notion. This was what was going to happen. “I will get Sister Aquamarine to bring a mirror to the dwelling quarters, and to you’re room. You’re design is… something a little more unusual but intricate all of its own.”

    At that I touched my left hand to my breast bone, gently through the opal silken cloth. “I can’t wait to see what I’ve been given.” There was no soreness this time, not even swelling or the slightest tenderness to the touch. The amethyst could be felt in an unusually jagged pattern. What I had been merged with, was not Turquoise’s spherical swirling pattern, but something quite the opposite.  My left hand remained there as my right creeped up to my neck, rubbing my thumb against the carved pattern on the fine stone. The same pattern as was on Turq’s own chest. He was right. This way I could keep him close to me, no matter where I went on my Passage… he would be with me the entire way through. Right from the beginning and right to the end, where he would be waiting for me.

   “The next cloudless night is but two days away.” The Elder High Sage spoke without looking at me, “This is when you must leave with your jackguar and begin your Passage under the treasures of the sky. You have this amount of time to bond with your mount and prepare for your journey to come, at least… as much as you can. We will assist of course, if we can.” She then took her leave as the Aquamarine Sage walked with me back down to the dwelling quarters and back to my room.

    She tried to make small conversation, “You must be excited, and it’s okay to be nervous.”  

   As much as I could? Prepare? I already knew I was headed to the savannah, after that I wasn’t entirely sure what the Goddess had planned for me and Citrine.

   Before she left my room I asked the Old Sage something, “Are there any books on savannah’s in the library? Or maps of or to savannah’s near by?”

   “I can check but you now know you aren’t aloud in the library again, unless you were to become a Sister after you’re Passage, Ame.” There was a strictness in her tone at this.

    For a brief second I though before answering, “I know, could you bring them here? You can watch what I do with them? I promise that I won’t steal or damage them.”

    Clearly, the Old Sage hadn’t been expecting this response, “That…. Would actually be allowed by the rule.” With that, she was out the door and again, I was left alone in the room. Curious, I lifted up my nightdress…